By Okoye,Chuka Peter
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) notes the recent press release by the Anambra State Police Command on the presentation of cheques worth ₦59,186,177.62 to 38 families of police officers who lost their lives in active service. While we commend the Inspector-General of police and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, for extending this welfare gesture, we must, as advocates of social justice and rule of law, interrogate its adequacy and alignment with extant legal standards.
1. THE BREAKDOWN
According to the figures made public, the families of 38 gallant officers collectively received ₦59,186,177.62. This translates to an average of about ₦1.55 million per family. Although distribution may vary by rank and years of service, the arithmetic speaks for itself: the current compensation remains paltry compared to the magnitude of loss suffered.
2. THE LEGAL POSITION
The Nigerian constitution, under section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), declares that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” This imposes a duty on the state not only to protect citizens, but equally to protect those who serve in enforcing law and order.
Furthermore, section 4(5) of the Police Act, 2020, recognizes the welfare of police officers and their dependents as a statutory obligation of the Nigeria Police Force. The Pension Reform Act, 2014 also mandates contributory pension and group life insurance coverage for employees of the public service, which includes the police. In fact, section 4(5) of the Pension Reform Act provides that where an employee dies in active service, the group life insurance shall be “not less than three times the annual total emolument of the deceased.”
When juxtaposed with this provision, an average payout of ₦1.55 million to families of officers who sacrificed their lives does not meet the threshold of justice or the statutory mandate envisaged under Nigerian law.
3. OUR CONCERNS
With the spiraling cost of living, high dependency burdens, and the lifetime loss of income occasioned by the death of these officers, ₦1.55 million per family is little more than a funeral token. It cannot guarantee education for the children, healthcare for dependents, or stable livelihood for widows and orphans left behind.
Tokenism in welfare provision risks reducing gallant sacrifice to mere charity. It erodes public confidence in state institutions and undermines the morale of serving officers who, daily, risk their lives in volatile and insurgency-prone areas.
4. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
To honour the sacrifices of fallen officers, CEHRAWS makes the following recommendations:
Full Enforcement of the Pension Reform Act (2014): Families should receive nothing less than the three-times-annual-emolument guarantee mandated by law. Anything short is unlawful.
Institutionalized Compensation Scheme: The Police Act, 2020 should be operationalised to create a transparent, automatic welfare framework that guarantees lump-sum death benefits, monthly stipends, scholarship opportunities for children, and medical coverage for dependents.
Legislative Oversight: The National Assembly Committees on Police Affairs and Appropriations should ensure adequate budgetary allocations for police welfare and monitor strict compliance.
Transparency and Accountability: The Police leadership must publish clear breakdowns of disbursements, entitlements, and beneficiaries to forestall suspicion of underpayment or mismanagement.
Human Rights Compliance: Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Article 4) which guarantees the right to life and dignity. These rights extend to ensuring that those who died defending society are not dishonoured by neglect of their families.
CONCLUSION
While the ₦59 million welfare disbursement reflects goodwill, goodwill is not justice. The true measure of justice lies in rights-based, lawful, and dignified compensation that secures the future of bereaved families.
The gallant officers of Anambra state and Nigeria at large deserve nothing less.
Signed:
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
